CELEBRATION – The Bayonne Hispanic Association, in conjunction with Our Lady of Assumption Church, celebrated Epiphany on Jan. 6, a public holiday in many countries and marks two events in Jesus Christ’s life, according to the Christian Bible. The first event was when the three wise men, or kings, visited infant Jesus. The second event was when Saint John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Vowing not to give up the fight to save rent control in Bayonne despite the loss of its referendum last November, the Bayonne Tenants Organization (BTO) will hold a general meeting on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School in Bible Study Room, located at 126 Broadway. Access to the school is through door No. 3, located at the back of the parking lot on the left, facing the school.

The guest speaker will be Cheryl Fallick, the campaign manager for the successful Hoboken rent control effort at the last election. Fallick is a Hoboken tenant as well as a member of the Hoboken Rent Leveling Board. Parking is available in the parking lot. For further information, contact Ed Gilligan at (551) 221-2805 or by email at btoinfo@yahoo.com.

Sires voted to make middle class tax cuts permanent

Rep. Albio Sires supported the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act, H.R. 8, to make tax cuts for the middle class permanent. In addition to keeping income taxes low for the middle class, this bill also makes investments in education, clean energy, and manufacturing that creates jobs.

“While the process involved in this legislation was not perfect, it is imperative that Congress came together to provide tax relief for a majority of Americans. This bill not only permanently extends the middle-class tax cuts, but it extends credits for working families to help provide economic certainty during these difficult times,” said Sires.

Specifically, families with income under $450,000 and individuals with income under $400,000 will not see an increase in their tax rates in 2013. Additionally, the bill extends the expansions of the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which helps families pay for college. The agreement also prevents two million people from losing their UI benefits by extending emergency unemployment insurance benefits for one year. Furthermore, the legislation protects seniors’ access to their physicians by preventing a scheduled reduction in Medicare payments to doctors.

“Not only does this agreement assist American families, but it also continues to provide tax relief to American businesses. In particular, it extends the Production Tax Credit, a key incentive for renewable energy and manufacturing to boost job creation, as well as the Research and Experimentation tax credit to help keep America globally competitive,” said Sires.